Even Split on Approval of Pit Bull Ban

In a random poll of public opinion
taken by the Forum Poll™ for the Montreal Gazette among 808 Montreal voters,
relatively equal proportions approve (49%) and disapprove (44%) of the city’s
pit bull ban. Very few don’t have an opinion on this issue (6%). Approval of
the ban is characteristic of the oldest (62%), the wealthy ($80K to $100K -
58%), mothers of children (55%), the best educated (post grad - 57%) and
Francophones (50%) rather than Anglophones (36%). Disapproval of the ban is
especially characteristic of the youngest (67%) Anglophones (60%) and those who
disapprove of Mayor Coderre (61%).

Even split on whether opinion of ban has
improved

Just more than one third agree with
the ban more now than three months ago (35%), while just fewer disagree more
now (30%). A similar proportion has not changed their view in that time (32%).

Even split on how Mayor Coderre has
handled the ban

Virtually equal proportions think
Mayor Coderre has handled the ban well (48%) or not well (46%), and one fifth
say he has handled it “very well” (21%). Those who think he has handled it very
well include the oldest (26%) and those with children (27%).

Slightly more will vote against Mayor
Coderre because of ban

Three-in-ten Montrealers are less
likely to vote for Mayor Coderre in the next municipal election because of the
ban (30%), while one quarter are more likely to vote for him for this reason
(25%). Fully 4-in-10 will not let the pit bull ban affect their vote (39%).

Mayor’s approval is high

Six-in-ten Montrealers approve of the
job Denis Coderre is doing as mayor (61%), and this view is common to the
oldest (72%), the best educated (post grad - 67%) and Francophones (64%) rather
than Anglophones (49%).

One half disagree with lighting Jacques-Cartier
Bridge

One half of Montreal voters
disapprove of the $40 million plan to light up the Jacques-Cartier Bridge for
the city’s 375th birthday (49%) and just fewer than 4-in-10 approve (38%).
Approval is characteristic of younger voters (35 to 44 - 43%), males (43%)
rather than females (33%), the very wealthiest ($100K to $250K - 48%), the best
educated (post grad - 46%) and Francophones (42%) more than Anglophones (24%).
Those who approve of the job being done by Mayor Coderre are likely to approve
this plan (46%).

“Both the pit bull ban and the plan
to light the Jacques-Cartier Bridge have their supporters and detractors,
apparently in roughly equal proportions. These appears to be policies with the power
to split the city” said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.

Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the
president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at
lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.